Power Train Problems of Lexus ES

When im driving the car shuts off. Or your driving car loses power and then dose a hard jerk and then starts driving again.

See all problems of the 2007 Lexus ES 🔎.

In April 2022, the timing cover seal on my 2016 Lexus Es 350 was replaced due to a leak. This was completed under warranty at approximately 84,785 miles. In February 2025, less than three years and roughly 56,000 miles later, I was informed by the same Lexus dealership during a routine service that the exact same issue—leaking from the timing cover—had reoccurred. There were no warning lights, engine performance issues, or visible signs of oil loss leading up to this. During my prior service appointment in December 2024, I was told the car was in excellent condition with no issues. I service my vehicle at every Lexus-recommended interval and maintain a full history of service records. The dealership has confirmed the new timing cover leak but has not been able to explain why the seal failed again. This is a major engine component that should not require a second repair within such a short time frame. I am now being asked to pay a significant portion of a nearly $5,000 repair despite a prior warranty fix, and despite having done nothing to cause or accelerate the failure. Lexus offered a partial goodwill credit, but no root cause has been identified. I am concerned that either poor workmanship or substandard parts contributed to the premature failure, and that it may happen again. Given the cost, critical nature of the part, and the lack of answers, this feels like more than just an isolated incident. I have complete service documentation and before-and-after video footage of the most recent repair. The vehicle is currently in my possession and available for inspection upon request. I purchased a Lexus because I believed in the brand’s commitment to long-term reliability and quality. That confidence has been shaken. I respectfully ask NHTSA to investigate this recurring failure and assess whether this is part of a larger issue.

See all problems of the 2016 Lexus ES 🔎.

This is a second report of unexpected, unanticipated extremly high acceleration while braking. I reported this experience in November 2019, NHTSA complaint number 11279155. At that time, the car was moving and I was braking on an uphill curve. On October 10, 2021, at approx 12:30 p. M. The unexpected, unanticipated extremely high acceleration occurred as I was starting my car in a pittsburgh area restaurant parking lot. The car requires that my foot be on the brake while starting. The car was in park when I depressed the start button. Immediately the car started with extremely high revolutions to the point the loud engine noise frightened several individuals standing 15-20 feet on an adjacent sidewalk. The tachometer was in or close to the redzone. I immediately shut the engine down. At no time did I have my foot on the accelerator and neither the floor mat nor any other item was touching the accelerator.

During the month of August, 2020, on 2 separate occasions while the car was in gear (reverse or drive), when putting my foot on the accelerator, the car would not "go". It was as if the car was in neutral but it was not. The first time I was turning around in a neighbor's driveway and when I put the car in reverse to back out and put my foot on the accelerator, it revved like I was in neutral but the r was on the dash and the gear shift was in r. I then put it in drive and the same thing. The only way I got the car to go was to put it in park, turn the car off & then turn it back on. The 2nd time, I was sitting at a stop light at a very busy intersection waiting to turn right on red. The car was in drive and I started to make my turn but again, the car would not go - it was like it was in neutral. We checked for any error lights/messages (there were none) and we looked to make sure it was in gear and the d was 100% on the dash and the gear shift was in drive. Again, the only way to get going was to put the car in park, turn it off and then start the car again. This 2nd time, I was almost rear-ended and if the light had not turned red for the cross traffic, I would have most likely been hit. The dealer took the car both times, ran diagnostics and even downloaded the black box data; however, because they could not replicate the issue, they could not fix it. They also contacted Lexus "experts" and they said there was no issue. There is definitely something wrong with the car and I am now afraid to drive it. Attached is more detail I gave to the dealer when they asked me to jot down everything I could remember.

See all problems of the 2019 Lexus ES 🔎.

I leased a 2019 Lexus Es300h in March of 2019. About 1 year later, the vehicle started having serious mechanical issues related to the power of the vehicle and put my life in danger on 3 different occasions. The vehicle has a serious problem with losing power. The very first time that this problem occurred, I was in the left only lane attempting to make a left turn. When it was safe to do so and there was enough distance between me and the nearest vehicle driving in the opposite direction, I pressed on the accelerator to make a left turn and my vehicle suddenly lost almost complete power. I had the accelerator pressed all the way to the floor and the vehicle was barely moving like 3-5 miles per hour. Me and the other vehicle that was coming kind of fast in the opposite direction almost got into a head on collision. I would have very easily and safely, without even rushing, cleared the intersection and completed the left turn had this not happened. After collecting myself from the terrifying experience I just went through and having my life flash before my eyes, pulled over and called Lexus roadside. They came and towed the vehicle to the dealer. The dealer kept the vehicle for some time, but was not able to duplicate the problem and told me that there is nothing with the vehicle. Regardless of how much I insisted that they do further tests, they refused and told me that the mechanic he driven it home at night and back in the morning and could not duplicate the issue and that if I didn't come to pick up the vehicle, they would park it on the street where it would be subject to tow. After picking it up and literally after about 20 minutes of driving it, almost the same thing happened while I was on the freeway on my way home. The vehicle lost power again and I almost got into an accident. A similar incident occurred the third time. Took the vehicle to service 3 times. Brand engagement has not done a single thing. Lemon law department denied the case. Been paying.

The transmission won't shift passed 3rd gear. I tried driving one day and that's what it begin doing. The oil was at the correct levels and it still behaved that way. It has been doing this ever since.

~tl the contact owns a 2005 Lexus Es350. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to respond with the accelerator pedal depressed. The contact was concerned that the transmission was defective. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed nor repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 72,000.

See all problems of the 2005 Lexus ES 🔎.

At 59000 miles my 2010 Lexus experienced rough shifting up through the gears and down the gears until the car comes to a full stop. I took the vehicle to the Lexus dealer near me in florida. They diagnosed the rough shifting as a bad transmission that needed to be replaced. Although the powertrain has a 7 year 70,000 mile warranty for defects, the factory customer satisfaction representative only offered to offset the $7,000 cost of transmission replacement by $3,000. I do not think that I should be responsible for any portion of the cost associated with the premature failure of the transmission. Although the vehicle is 10 model years old it has been carefully driven less than 60,000 miles. Most of the miles are highway miles as this is our second car and is used primarily for driving trips. It is garaged during inclement weather. Has been serviced only by a Lexus dealer since new. It is my concern that Lexus has provided me with a defective product that failed after 59,000 miles through no fault on my behalf. Because the car exceeded the years of the warranty sitting in a garage not being used should not be the deciding factor. I request your assistance to have Lexus correct a defective transmission that has not been used for the 70,000 miles that should be the controlling factor not the amount of time the vehicle was only lightly used and carefully maintained.

See all problems of the 2010 Lexus ES 🔎.

Since I bought the car in oct 2019, this happens everytime I am on local roads (speed <50mph), when I slowdown per the traffic flow, or taking turn (left or right) after yielding, the car hesitates to accelerate as if the gas pedal died on me and then I push the pedal further down only to get the car downshift drastically and revving up to almost always about the hit the car in front (if any) of me. In the few times I am on highway, when I need to speed up to change the lane the car accelerates unpredictably making the driving a scary experience.

Just bought car today. Had new tires installed and they told me they put the car in park but ir started rolling. Had to restart in neutral and put in park again. When I left went to auto parts store and parked and turned vehicle off. As I was getting out realized car was rolling. I put foot on brake and car restarted without putting in neutral. Shifted to drive and back to park and it stopped this time.

Since may of 2019 my check engine light has been on. The obd reader keeps detecting a trouble code. When moving back to California, I had to reregistered for California license plates, tags, and get my car smogged with my smog certification in order for me to complete registration. I have spent so much money into my car that it's affecting me from getting to work/ school and taking driving my daughter to school as well. Every time I get something fixed and drive the miles I'm supposed to be driving, that check engine light comes back on with a trouble code. This is affecting me because I'm unable to drive my car because it still won't pass smog. It's been going on quite for some time.

See all problems of the 1998 Lexus ES 🔎.

Electrical systems is fried, draining every battery I buy ( about a total of 15 or more bought) I've changed the starter and alternator multiple times as well. If I turn the a/c on the lights dim and the car slows down dangerously before completely shutting down! my car is a risk on the road so I haven't been able to drive it since finding out, yet, I still have to pay insurance every month on it.

See all problems of the 2000 Lexus ES 🔎.

Was driving in west sacramento , when the check engine, check hybrid system alarms went off. Within 1 minute , the car went dead, no power, no steering. If I was on an express way , it would have been a guaranteed fatality for me, my family and other cars involved. The dealership , Lexus of sacramento told me the computer failed in the car. The car has only 55000 miles on it. I am concerned about the quality of parts used by Lexus.

See all problems of the 2013 Lexus ES 🔎.

Transmission was hesitant and suddenly release creating a sudden acceleration rush when gas pedal was applied at 10 to 15 mph. This happen when the vehicle is in downshift gear mode and was asked to accelerate upshift gear suddenly. The transmission jerking/hesitant is a very dangerous situation Especially in merging traffic. This could lead to serious accident. Transmission also has a rough shift from time to time.

See all problems of the 2006 Lexus ES 🔎.

This vehicle has a problem with random hard down shifting when it is almost stopped. The hard down shift will happen and then vehicle will lunge forward. I did slight run into the back of another vehicle when this happened in a parking lot. This could be potentially very dangerous if the lunge would hit a pedestrian or cause the vehicle to enter heavy traffic. I have reported this many times to the Lexus dealership, who is unable to duplicate the problem because of the random nature.

Rear noise while driving many other drivers have the same question. When the car goes over pot holes I makes a sound similar to golf / bowing bowln hitting each other.

See all problems of the 1997 Lexus ES 🔎.

Transmission hesitates and jerks at all times putting the driver in unsafe situations. There appears to be a endless list of complaints regarding this and Lexus not taking any action to correct it on their own. I just received a recall notice for a pulley problem that may cause a belt to come off but their is no recall issued for a dangerous transmission issue, seriously?? I hope someone forces them to take action soon since they don't appear to be concerned with customer safety or loyalty.

1. The vehicle hesitates with initial acceleration (slow or quick acceleration). 2. The automatic transmission also hesitates. I suspect that ounce the acceleration problem is fixed that the transmission problem would be fixed. 3. I have gone to the Lexus dealer to update the computer with a new chip to help resolve the problems with no success. 4. I have discovered on the internet that hundreds of Lexus owners have the same complaint. In some cases the dealers have the audacity to suggest thats the way the car was designed! why isn't Lexus listening to all the complaints? thanks.

See all problems of the 2003 Lexus ES 🔎.